The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-11-19

party arrives, and, watch closely as he
will, still nothing is done by the butler
to warrant Bottoms open condemna
ton.
On Tuesday morning the light wagon
is driven from Bywater Park to the
bank, half mile distant, presently re-
turning with strong, square box that
is heavily clamped and barred with
iron.
The Bywater plate, Bolton says to
himself, as the vehicle trundles past
him, and his eyes light upon the box.
Madam is doing the thing in regu-
larly swell style. There goes the fam
| lily silver, and it is valuable"
| Mr.. Bottoms eyes follow the box
lovingly, as the wagon disappears
| through the Park gates.
| Then he turns about, fetching long
sigh as his mind reverts again to the
| box of silver and the ease it would buy
| for him were it his own, and converted
| into cash.
As he turns away, his eyes fall upon
the short, squat figure of man who is
walking hurriedly in the shadow of the
trees.
Bottoms first impulse is to follow
| him, and he yields to the impulse.
The stranger is some little way in
advance of Bolton, and he walks With
peculiar, cat-like, and gliding mo-
ton.
Bolton follows on slowly and care
fully, and is astonished to see the
stranger pause at a small side gate in
the stone wall-a gate that has long
been disused by the Bywater Park
household. A chain that has grown
rusty from disuse fastens the gate to a
post in the wall.
Bolton wonders how the man will re-
move this rusty chain, but soon sees
that neither the gate nor the chain
itself is bar to his ingress.
The strangers next movement proves
that he is no stranger to the correct
management of this half-forgotten
gate, for he whips out key from his
pocket, fits the key IN the paddock
which fastens the gate and chain to-
gethcr, and, prcstoi the gate opens
easily, and he disappears at the inner
side of the stone wall.
Bolton wonders. He cautiously APP
proaches the gate and listens as the low
murmur of voices on the other side of
the wall is borne to his ear.
There is a crevice in the high stone
wall which shuts Bywater Park from
the public road. To this crevice Bolton
applies his eyes. He sees two figures
standing near each other on the oppo-
site side of the wall. One of the men
is the party who has Just passed
through the gate. The other-there is
no mistake is the rascally butler at By
water Park.
Bolton instantly recognizes the slim,
black-robed figure of Scarth, and al
his dormant distrust is at once aroused.
He feels certain Scarth is plotting mis-
chief, and as if to dispel even the
shadow of doubt from his mind, the
first low words which fall upon his ears
reveal the purpose of the two plotters
before him.
Yes" the butler is saying, "the
plate arrived Just now. 1t is worth a
fortune. and must be bagged tonight
or not at all. Madam has had it brought
down from the bank for the party. To
morrow it will go back again. SO to-
night is the time"
about what hour?" asks his confed-
crate.
"The party is to break up at one
o'clock. At two the guests will all be
gone, and by three the household will
be in bed and sound asleep. Say at
half-past three. 1 am to sit up and
watch the plate, which will be stored
in the buffers pantry as soon as the
guests are gone. At half-past three
you must have the wagon ready at the
side gate here, and the plate will be
ready. It's easy enough"
YES" the short man says, with a